Ep. 117 (Part 3 of 3) | Brad Reynolds, author of Embracing Reality: The Integral Vision of Ken Wilber and Where’s Wilber At? Ken Wilber’s Integral Vision in the New Millennium, gives us a beautiful distillation of Ken Wilber’s work, starting from the beginning and spanning decades. Not only does Brad elegantly relate the major themes of Ken’s work, he also makes clear the value of Ken’s contributions—the way this knowledge can be understood and applied to literally expand our notion of reality and evolve our consciousness. Brad deftly leads us through the subjects that Ken has developed: the spectrum of consciousness, the integration of science and religion, transcending and including what has come before, the importance of the transpersonal, and much more. We learn why Ken’s teachings are timeless and also so relevant and important today.

Brad’s scholarship, his own spiritual practice and insight, his engaging, easygoing style, and the close working relationship he had with Ken for many years make this podcast a goldmine for learning the essence of Ken’s theories, for deepening our appreciation of the magnitude of Ken’s understanding, and above all, the topics covered here point the way for us to evolve as human beings. We come to understand that integral is much more than a theory: it’s a practice, a call to grow and transcend, to become more inclusive, more responsive—to live our true potential. Brad eloquently brings it home just how much we need integral thinkers and leaders right now, with regressive developmental trends on the rise. Especially pertinent in our polarized society, integral shows us how to take all that is valuable within ostensibly conflicting worldviews and integrate it for the benefit of all. Recorded January 3, 2024.

“Integral thinking is really about encouraging people to be their best selves.”

(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)

Topics & Time Stamps – Part 3

• Ken’s Phase 5: Ending the solitary period and establishing the Integral Institute to apply the AQAL model in the world (00:49)
• Ken’s health issues multiplied in 2006 (05:19)
• Brad’s favorite book of Ken’s: Integral Psychology (06:37)
• Ken’s critique of postmodernism in his novel Boomeritis (09:05)
• Ken’s new book would often address the flaws in his last book (13:28)
• What Ken’s The Marriage of Sense and Soul intended to do: how to integrate value-free science with value-laden religion? (14:40)
• And how do we mitigate the clash of civilizations, the war of worldviews? (19:01)
• How psychology uses the scientific method to develop our interiors and help heal our fractured culture (20:52)
• Ken’s theory is based upon the reality of his transpersonal awareness (22:04)
• The need for integral leaders to permeate our institutions and establish global reconciliation—otherwise there will be a regression (23:39)
• History is calling on us as a collective to address the pathologies we haven’t addressed or we will lose our democracy and regress down the spectrum of consciousness (25:16)
• Integral is really about encouraging people to be their best selves, to be inclusive; it’s a way of securing the rights of liberty and justice (27:32)
• Ken’s most recent publications, The Religion of Tomorrow, A Post-Truth World, and Revolutionary Social Transformation (29:33)
• Every generation has the responsibility to allow for higher development of human consciousness (35:01)
• The importance of BEING integral, not just thinking integral (36:02)
• Roger’s thank you to Brad for synthesizing Ken’s work and the value of integral so beautifully (36:47)

Resources & References – Part 3

• Ken Wilber, Terry Patten, Adam Leonard & Marco Morelli, Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening* 
• Jamie Wheal: see Deep Transformation episode #3, Ramping Up Human Evolution in Time to Avert Disaster
• Integral Life website, run by Corey deVos, see also Deep Transformation episode #67, Illuminating the Integral Vision: A Metatheory for Understanding Our Self, Life, and the World
• Jeff Salzman, The Daily Evolver podcast, see also Deep Transformation episode #1, Polarization, Being Woke, the Universal Agenda, Mindfulness Going Bad, and the Integral Vision
• Ken Wilber, Integral Psychology: Consciousness, Spirit, Psychology*
• Ken Wilber, Boomeritis* (a novel)
• Ken Wilber, The Marriage of Sense and Soul: Integrating Science and Religion*
• Steve McIntosh, Developmental Politics: How America Can Grow Into a Better Version of Itself,* see also Deep Transformation episode #20, Consciousness Evolves, Politics Can Too
• Ken Wilber, The Religion of Tomorrow: A Vision for the Future of the Great Traditions*
• Brad Reynolds’ website: https://integralartandstudies.com
• Brad Reynolds, Embracing Reality: The Integral Vision of Ken Wilber*
• Brad Reynolds, Where’s Wilber At?: Ken Wilber’s Integral Vision in the New Millennium*
• Brad Reynolds, God’s Great Tradition of Global Wisdom: Guru Yoga-Satsang in the Integral Age*

* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.

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Brad Reynolds did graduate work at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) before leaving to study under Ken Wilber for nearly a decade (1995-2004), and published two books reviewing Wilber’s work: Embracing Reality: The Integral Vision of Ken Wilber (Tarcher, 2004) and Where’s Wilber At?: Ken Wilber’s Integral Vision in the New Millennium (Paragon House, 2006). He recently published a book reviewing the world’s wisdom traditions called God’s Great Tradition of Global Wisdom: Guru Yoga-Satsang in the Integral Age (Bright Alliance, 2021). Brad is also a graphic artist, laying out books and designing a wide variety of graphics for publication as well as continuing his work in Integral Philosophy and the study of world religions.

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Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell